Salmon and steelhead have always been an integral part of Pacific Northwest ecosystems and human social structures. In rivers and streams ranging from Alaska to California, these amazing fish migrate from their freshwater rearing grounds to the ocean, where they grow large on a rich supply of food. When they are mature, after 2 to 4 years roaming the open seas, they return to the stream of their birth to spawn a new generation and complete their own life cycle. Except for steelhead, all Pacific salmon species die soon after spawning, and the nutrients they gathered in the ocean are released into the stream as their bodies decay. In this way, salmon bring a valuable gift back to the stream - nourishment for an ecosystem where nutrients are constantly being washed away by flowing water. Salmon and steelhead are also a nourishing gift to humans.

When European settlers arrived in the Pacific Northwest, they thought the supply of salmon was boundless. However, as our population has grown, so has our demand for water. When systems were designed for delivering water to humans, the fish were not the highest priority. Dams constructed to store water and generate electricity became impassible barriers to migrating fish. In California's Central Valley, the available salmon habitat throughout the Sacramento and San Joaquin river systems has been reduced from 6,000 miles to only 300 miles. The impact on fish populations was dramatic.

Removing water from rivers for human use means there is less water available for the fish. As flows diminish and river levels drop, water temperatures tend to rise. Salmon and steelhead must have cold water to survive. The methods used for extracting the water can also harm fish. Diversion dams span the river and form barriers to migrating fish. Fish ladders and/or side channels for fish passage are often built, but they don't always work. Fry migrating downstream often swim into, or are drawn into diversions that take water directly from the river. Placing screens over diversions can eliminate this problem. Large dams that block much of a river's natural flow can profoundly alter fish habitat.

The Sacramento River is home to the endangered winter run chinook salmon. There are four separate runs of chinook salmon in the Sacramento, which means fish may be hatching, rearing or migrating up or down river at any time during the year. Since the winter run is listed as endangered, most of the water management strategies implemented are geared toward the survival of these fish.

Society has become concerned about the fate of salmon in the Sacramento River and other streams. With public support, laws, funding and multi-agency commitments addressing the issue of salmon survival, time will tell if present efforts can secure a long term future for these magnificent creatures.

Preparation:

Starting from the NatureWater Lesson Plans Teacher Resources page, review and printout the five Problems/Solutions pages, and visit the other web sites listed.

At some point just before, or in conjunction with smolting, the fish begin their down stream journey. They may swim hundreds of miles, past many obstacles and dangers before reaching the estuary.
Most salmon remain for some time in the estuary, getting adjusted to the salt water and growing larger on new food sources.

Smolts need everything fry need.

They also need straightforward, unobstructed downstream access to the ocean.

Adults

Adult fish roam the Pacific Ocean for 2-4 years. They may not have to travel far because the ocean just off the California and Oregon coastline is rich with food.

When the fish become mature, they return to the river of their birth to spawn.

Adults in the ocean climb towards the top of the food chain as they grow larger. They need protection from over harvest at sea.

The warm ocean water of El Nino years hurt the salmon by reducing available food.

When fish return to the river, they need sufficient river flows and free access to their spawning grounds. Water must be cold and oxygen rich.

Most salmon stop eating once they enter fresh water.

Spawners

Moving upstream and at the spawning beds, near the place of their own birth.

Ask students what they know about salmon and steelhead. Some students may have gone fishing for salmon or trout. Generate a class discussion about the fish to find out what they already know. Here are some questions to prompt their existing knowledge:

Has anyone seen a salmon or steelhead trout?

Where do these fish live? Do they use more than one habitat during their lives?

Are these fish important to people? Why?

Does anyone know the status of salmon and steelhead populations in California?

What is an endangered species? What is a threatened species?

Procedure:

Allow students time to conduct on-line research about the life cycle and habitat requirements of salmon and steelhead. Ask them to take notes as they use the Internet.

On the chart, begin with the egg stage. Complete the first three columns with the students.

Follow up:

How many types of habitats do salmon and steelhead inhabit during their lives?

What are the fishes' consistent requirements while they are in fresh water?

What do you think is happening to salmon and steelhead in our rivers today? Are fish populations healthy?

Lesson 2: Share the Water

The best way to learn something is by trying to figure out how best to teach it. Assembling all they have learned from the WaterShare site and other web sites about the salmon and their water needs, individual students or teams of students have the following task: design a communication to the audience of choice, addressing
the human side of salmon water sharing issues.

How can you put these three categories of interest together in creating an essay, lesson, performance, video, field trip, art show, web site, epic poem, song, comedy act, or rock concert ABOUT: People and Fish?

Procedure:

This is a long term assignment, so give students time to sort out their interests. Start with the opening discussion of the questions listed above.

Assign to each student a preliminary one or two page report which treats the following:

Of all the human behaviors that affect the salmon for good or for ill, which specific behavior does the student wish to address?

What audiences would benefit by learning more about the positive and negative consequences of that behavior?

What method of communication would the students choose to reach those audiences?

Have the students summarize their reports verbally for the class. Discuss as a class, the possibilities for merging various approaches into self-directed teams which could combine individual interests into group efforts. Let the students consolidate or pursue independent efforts, as they wish.

Require from each team or individual effort a written workplan outlining the chosen project, setting a timetable for accomplishment, and establishing a resources budget. Negotiate with them as necessary to set realistic goals within the time and resources available.

Write a "contract" with each team or individual effort to deliver the agreed product on the agreed date. Some deliverables may be required of the teacher, too, such as gaining certain kinds of permission and official support, as all good executive producers must provide.

Some students may want to tackle those human aspects of water sharing for fish that generate the most heated public discussions. Some may wish to address children because they want to become teachers one day. Some may be more interested in the method of expression than the subject matter.

What are the possibilities?

Staging a play about fish and people for a specific audience.

Putting on a benefit concert for a save the fish campaign.

Writing a research report on how water sharing efforts affect local farm economics.

Conducting a field trip to water management facilities or nature areas or local farms with students as the guides.

Organizing a public summit meeting of experts or advocates.

Creating a photo essay on salmon water sharing issues for the school newspaper.

Performing a salmon puppet show for kindergarten kids.

The possibilities are as varied as the students in your class.

Follow-up:

Please share with WaterShare the results. Invitations to any events are welcome.